Judah and Joseph - Sexual Temptations

Genesis 38 and 39 both deal with sex. Genesis 38 is the story of Judah's 3 sons and Tamar - the story that begins immediately after we are told that Joseph found himself a slave in Potiphar's house.

The author of Genesis broke away from Joseph's story in Egypt (Genesis 37) to tell us about his brother Judah, Judah's sons, and a woman named Tamar.  After the story of Tamar and Judah's sons, the author returned to Joseph's story in Egypt (ch 38); to the place where he had left him - in Potiphar's house. In other words the story of Judah and his family was sandwiched into the midst of Joseph's ordeal with Potiphar's wife.

Sandwiching is a common writing tool in the Bible that helps emphasize something.  Sandwiching was intentional on the part of the writer.  In this case, before the writer of Genesis gets too involved with the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife, he wants us to see the story of Tamar and Judah.  In other words, they are intended to be connected.

Here is how it works out in outline form:

A. Brothers sell Joseph into slavery
B. Joseph in Potiphar's house
C. Judah and his sons' shameful sexual behavior
B. Joseph in Potiphar's house

In chapter 38 Judah's daughter-in-law (Tamar) did not bear children before her husband died, so by custom, her husband's brother was suppose to have sex with her so she could have a child in the name of her dead husband. But her brother-in-law wanted nothing to do with having children in the behalf of his brother, so "he spilt his seed on the ground." In other words while having sex with his brother's wife he pulled out last second.

This verse is not about masturbation as many have suggested, although it does tell us indirectly about birth control in their days. Ultimately this verse gives us an example of a brother who should have done his cultural duty and produce a child for his dead brother's wife and and so that his dead brother's name might continue in genealogies to come.

For his lack of honoring the tradition, God killed him. Judah lost 2 sons, both after being with Tamar (the girl). No doubt he blamed her for their deaths but was stuck with a tradition, so he promised Tamar that his youngest son would fulfill the duty of the brother when he got old enough, but his promise was empty; when the son got old enough, Tamar saw that Judah did not do as he had promised.

So Tamar dressed up as a prostitute to get Judah's attention. This meant covering her face so that he would not recognize her. Judah fell for it and went in to her, had sex with her and she got pregnant.

Tamar's trickery for the sake of custom was considered noble, not only in her day but for centuries to come.

Meanwhile, at the same time Judah's sons died and Judah visited a prostitute, miles away Joseph (considered lost or dead) was being pursued by Potiphar's wife for sexual favors. Joseph ran from his temptation and was imprisoned for his nobility. But in the end he was lifted out of prison and placed in the second highest position in Egypt.

Here are some parallels and contrasts between the 2 stories
1. Tamar pursued Judah for noble reasons, Potiphar's wife pursued Joseph for sexual gratification. Tamar went down in history as a hero, Potiphar's wife as a scoundral.
2. Judah slept with a prostitute for sexual gratification while Joseph fled from his temptation. Both fulfilled God's plans.